Pipe wrench



s. SORENSEN P-IPE WRENCH May 23, 1933.

Filed Aug. 8, 1930 JNVENTOR.

6AM SORENSEN BY m4 0611;" /ff i'g RNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES SAM SORENSEIL'OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR'TO BYRON JACKSON'CO 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PIPE WRENCH Application filed August 8, Serial No. 473,963. 7

My invention relates to pipe wrenches for use in screwing up or unscrewing joints in pipe.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrench of simple andstrong construction adapted to engage the pipe by a forward thrust of the wrench against the pipe and without any further manipulation.

It is a further object to provide a wrench of the character stated, which will ratchet on the pipe in rotating the coupling without any manual control of the jaws.

In the drawing herewith Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of my wrench.

Fig. 2 is a view of the head of the wrench as applied to a pipe.

Fig. 3 is a view of the wrench head similar to the view in Fig. 1 with the aws in the act of engaging the pipe.

The wrench body includes a handle 1 with a head 2 thereon, said head having two arcuate symmetrical arms 8 thereon. Each arm is provided with an opening to receive pins 4 upon which the jaws 5 and 6 are pivoted. The arms are each made up of two spaced plates between which the said jaws are fitted as seen in Fig. 2.

The jaws 5 and 6 are both arcuate plates shaped to fit about the pipe. They are spaced apart by their pivot pins 4 so that when they are in engagement with the pipe as seen in Fig. 1 their outer ends will slightly enclose the pipe and the inner ends of the jaws will be spaced from each other. To normally hold the jaws toward the pipe at their outer ends, a coiled spring 7 is shown as fitted within recesses 8 in the jaws so as to force the inner ends of the jaws resiliently apart.

The jaw 6 has a tooth 9 at each end to en- 4 gage the pipe 10 while jaw 5 is not toothed but frictionally engages the pipe throughout its length. I may omit the spring 7 if desired and in case the spring is omitted the stud or pin 11 seen in Fig. 3 will limit the inward movement of the jaws so that they will be in position to engage the pipe at any time.

In the use of this wrench it is to be noted that the outer ends of the jaws are beveled at 13 so that when the said ends are thrust against the pipe these'ends will spread apart as shown in Fig. 3 to allow the jaws to pass about the pipe. As the outerends oi the jaws pass the pipe the inner ends at A in Fig.3 will strike the pipe and the outer ends will thus be thrown inwardly by this action as well as by the action of the spring 7.

With the jaws engaging the pipein this manner the swinging of the handle to the right in Fig. 1 will cause the jaws to clamp against the pipe to rotate it. The swinging of the handle in the opposite direction will loosen the jaws to allow the wrench to slide on the pipe without rotating it. I am thus able to ratchet the wrench on the pipe in screwing up or unscrewing the coupling. It will be obvious that it the wrench is used in screwing up the joint, it may be also employed in unscrewing by simply turning the wrench over and reversing the direction of the ratcheting action.

The advantage of this device lies in the fact that the wrench jaws need not be manu ally manipulated but will automatically engrip or release the pipe depending upon the direction of movement of the wrench handle. When the wrench is on the pipe the handle can be released and the wrench will remain in the clamping position as fixed.

l/Vhat I claim as new is:

1. A pipe wrench including a handle, a head thereon, two symmetrical arms formed integral on said head, two arcuate jaws pivoted between their ends upon said arms, the outer ends of saidjaws being shaped to be moved apart by contact with the pipe, and re silient means contacting with the adjacent ends of said aws and normally holding said jaws in pipe-engaging position.

2. A pipe wrench including a handle, a head formed integrally thereon, spaced forwardly projecting arms on said head, two symmetrical arcuate jaws pivoted midway of their ends on said arms, the adjacent outer ends being beveled to engage and be forced apart by contact with the pipe means beion tween the adjacent inner ends of said jaws to hold them normally in pipe engaging position, one jaw having teeth at each end to clamp against the pipe when the handle is moved in one direction. 7

3. A pipe wrench including a handle, a head formed integrally therein, spaced forwardly projecting arms on said head, two symmetrical arcuate jaws pivoted midway of their ends on said arms, a spring between the adjacent ends of said jaws to hold them normally in pipe-engaging position, one of said jaws being untoothed and adapted to frictionally engage the pipe when said handle is moved in one direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature vthis 5th day of August, A. D. 1930.

' SAM SORENSEN. 

